Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Afternoon Edition - 9/20/05

I’m Hungry and You’re Going To PayNational retailer, Wal-Mart is facing a class-action law suit in California for denying workers lunch breaks. The lawsuit charges that Wal-Mart knowingly violated a state law that stipulates employees working over six hours must be granted a 30-minute unpaid lunch or be paid an additional hour of work. Fred Furth who is representing the employees said, "I will prove the reason they did this was for the God Almighty dollar.” This isn’t the first lawsuit Wal-Mart has faced for this alleged infraction. Wal-Mart settled a lawsuit with Colorado litigants for a reported $50 million. The workers are seeking more than $66 million plus interest. Wal-Mart earned $10 billion dollars last year.

Your Hormones Are Giving You The FingerBetween 8 and 14 weeks after conception the fetus (the baby, if you’re a devout Christian) begins developing his/her own hormones. These hormones affect everything from brain development to the length of the fingers. Women typically have either same length ring and index fingers or index fingers that are slightly longer than their ring fingers, while men tend to have a ring finger that is longer that their index finger. It is believed that this is the first sign of hormone development in babies. Boys who have longer index fingers (like their female counterparts) tend to be more emotional and sensitive and girls with longer ring fingers (ala Xena) tend to show signs of hyperactivity. This initial sign is also being explored as an indicator for signs of homosexuality – since the length of the digits would indicate exposure to higher levels of either testosterone or estrogen. Outside of genitalia, digit length (index finger to ring finger) is the only gender identifier until puberty, when hips, breasts and other traits appear.

Their Cup Runneth OverThe Starbucks Coffee at Baylor University is caught between a coffee bean and a grinder after a cup emblazoned with a gay poem sparked an e-mail condemning the display as inappropriate for a Baptist University. Aramark, a food distributor running the Starbucks contacted the Starbucks regional office and the cup was pulled. The decision to remove the cup is said to have been made by Baylor dining services staff. Larry Brumley, a spokesperson at Baylor said, "I think they were trying to be sensitive. Obviously, Baylor is a Baptist-affiliated institution, and Baptists as a denomination have been pretty outspoken on the record about the denomination's views about the homosexual lifestyle." Now the Concerned Women for America (a national Christian women’s organization) is saying Starbucks is promoting a homosexual agenda. The cups were imprinted with a poem by novelist Armistead Maupin. It reads, “My only regret about being gay is that I repressed it for so long. I surrendered my youth to the people I feared when I could have been out there loving someone. Don't make that mistake yourself. Life's too damn short."

Long Story ShortLenox Lounge in Harlem tonight! R&B, Hip-Hop and thug-style partying for the open-minded. Keep in mind, Lenox doesn’t start pumpin’ until after midnight, so be ready to call-in late to the office tomorrow. America’s Next Top Model – The season of Bling has its 2-hour season premiere this Wednesday on UPN – I’m there! I want to talk about it, so please be sure to watch. Friday, October 7, marks the release date of The Gospel with Boris Kodjoe. The handsome Soul Food television series actor will play the prodigal son who leaves home to a mediocre life, only to return home and be accepted by his dad causing a rift with his loyal brother. The gospel world meets young and beautiful celebrities as Keish Knight-Pulliam of the Cosby show, Nona Gaye (Marvin’s daughter), Omar Gooding, first season American Idol contestant Tamyra Gray, Yolanda Adams and even Donnie McClurkin make up just some of the cast members to grace this flick. The film hasn’t received the mainstream plugs afforded big budget films, but the Black press has given it wonderful reviews.

On BlastIs it acceptable for certain groups to appropriate words, using them as positive, loving or comical terms with each other, but becoming very offended when members outside their racial/social groups use them? For example: The use of the word “nigger” by African Americans; the use of “faggot,” by gay men etc. Should society accept that certain words can/should only be used by certain groups or should we discontinue all use of words that have an established negative connotation?

hector...the girls and i are planning a trip to NY to see The Gospel...i will let you know our plans after we have finalized them. Maybe you and some of the NY crew can meet up with us and we can all go to dinner and then the play together. wont that be fab!

To my knowledge, Webster has not changed the definition of "faggot" and "Nigger", nor has the conotation for either word changed in the last 25 years. These word are negative, derrogatory and degrading terms period, and it does not matter who uses it or in whose presence. It says something about us if we need to use these depictions , even in jest. And it says something even worse if we allow its casual use in "our" communities even for a "read"

Tam... I was going to say, The Gospel is a movie - BITCH! It's so great to hear you're coming up... OH HONEY... HONEY!! I will definitely make myself available to you and the rest of the country c*nts! I'll let the girls and the "girls" know that you're coming. We'll officially call that Friday - Black Friday. :)

Kris... you absolutely have a point. It's hard to tell folks they can't use a word after using it a million times in their presence. Just today at lunch I was having a conversation with "Krissy" and referred to myself and some friends as "fags" and Krissy shoved her leg in her mouth and called me one in passing... needless to say, when she gets out of surgery and has the stiches finally removed I will try to explain to her why I had to rip her head off and spit down her trachea. All said, I now forgive her and realize that she was simply repeating a word she endlessly hears from me.

Almost forgot... Tam if Michael wants to come up he is more than welcome to stay with me for that weekend.... I know you guys may have space restrictions where you're at and I know he and I can certainly work out sleeping arrangements. :) LOL

I'm out of the office tomorrow... attending a "Packing" conference tonight. LOL Let me know what you guys come up with.

Toy... where the f*ck are you?! I called this morning and no one can find yo' azz!

Philippe, I think I found Mr. Right... I want you to check him out and have a little 3-way with us just to make sure. LOL

James... I'm at the Lenox tonight... hit me up either before 10 or after 3 a.m. on my cell

Krissy, you right...he did have something to do with the evolution of that work...sigh*. so i guess i'll just continue to be his bitch. hey, its betta than being a lot of other peoples bitch i'll tell ya. hector darling NO my son will not be joining me in NY...and i done tole your nasty azz...you caint have none of my baby!!!!!! so back off bitch!!!!! damn that felt good. :-)